Monday, March 11, 2013

Operation Red Thread

'Asian
Security' is a quarterly journal published by the renowned US
publishers, 'Taylor
& Francis' from Philadelphia, US. This is a scholarly journal,
that aims to be the foremost journal on all aspects of the national
and international security in Asia. The journal covers "traditional"
issues such as interstate warfare, the regional balance of power,
alliances and other multilateral security institutions, national
defense policies, strategic culture, civil-military relations,
nuclear proliferation, conventional arms racing, arms control, and
conflict-prone areas. The journal also covers "new"
security issues such as the stability of democratic transitions,
globalization and its backlash, ethnic conflict, insurgency and
counter insurgency, failing states, and transnational terrorism. In
its current issue dated 9th
March 2013, it has published a research note, written by David
Brewster & Ranjit Rai, entitled as ' Operation
Lal Dora: India's Aborted Military Intervention in Mauritius.'

David
Brewster, one of the authors of this article, is a Visiting Fellow at
the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National
University, Canberra, Australia and Commodore Ranjit Rai (Retired) is
the Former Director of Naval Intelligence and Operations for the
Indian Navy, New Delhi, India.

This
article, written about India's efforts in the 1980's decade to expand
its strategic reach in the Indian ocean and in particular its efforts
to make the island state of Mauritius as one of India's closest
allies in the region, makes such a fascinating reading that I thought
that I must introduce it to my readers.

Many
of the readers would immediately realize that when one talks about
the India of 1980's decade, it was ruled at that time by none other
that India's Iron Lady; Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Her entire political
carer is dotted with tough decisions, like helping Bangladesh to win
its war of freedom or action against Khalistan leaders, that had far
reaching implications. This entire episode with Mauritius, is again
a fine example of her statesmanship without least doubt.

Mauritius
became independent from British in 1968. India has been well aware of
the need to have friends in Indian Ocean area on whom it could count
upon. With this need in mind, India had supported for 14 long years,
Mauritius Labour Party (MLP), led by Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. In
1982, India helped, Anerood Jugnauth of Mouvement Militant Mauricien
(MMM) to oust the prime minister and become new Prime minister of the
country. MMM was a Left socialist political party in Mauritius,
whose ‘ideological leader’ was Paul Berenger, a firebrand
socialist of French descent, who became the minister of finance in
the new Government, formed under prime minister Anerood Jugnauth.
However after the Government was formed there was considerable
friction between Jugnauth and Finance Minister Paul Berenger.

In
a book “The
Kaoboys of R &AW: Down Memory Lane,” written by a retired
officer of India's premier intelligence organization, R & AW, Mr.
B. Raman narrates a small incidence related to this story as:

“Just
before Suntook (Naushervan
Framji Suntook, chief of R&AW)retired
on March 31,1983, a traditional alley of India sought India's
assistance in a very sensitive manner. After discussing this at a
top secret meeting attended by a very small number of officers,
Indira Gandhi accepted a suggestion of Kao (R
N Kao, her security adviser and founder of R&AW)
to send Suntook on a visit to that country for further discussions
with its prime minister. ”

B.Raman
is obviously referring here to Mauritius and the fear of its prime
minister Anerood Jugnauth of a possible coup oraganized by his rival
Berenger. We have no means to know, what exactly transpired in the
meeting in Mauritius. But it is known that actually, Anerood
Jugnauth had requested that a senior R&AW official be rushed to
Port Louis and help defuse the crisis.

There
was a NAM (Non Aligned movement) summit in New Delhi between 7th
and 12th
of March in New Delhi and Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth
was seen attending this meeting. It is possible that he might have
hinted about the possible developments in his country to Mrs. Gandhi.
Soon after this summit, Mrs. Gandhi ordered Indian Navy and Army to
prepare for amphibious landing of troops in Mauritius The secret
plan was called 'Operation Lal Dora ( Red Thread)' and included
troops of 54th
division along with six naval destroyers with Alouette helicopters
and MK 42C Sea King aircrafts for slithering operations.
Subsequently, concrete military preparations got under way in Mumbai
at the time. Even though the naval plans were presented to
Mrs.Gandhi, she never gave go ahead and the operation never took
place. On the contrary, New Delhi somehow leaked the plan to
Mauritius, and it created fear among the conspirators there.

The
authors of the research note say that although the official reason
given for putting off the operation was differences of opinion
between Navy and Army, Mrs. Gandhi’s real aim may have been to
spread the word in Mauritius, in particular a signal to the Berenger
camp, that Indian military intervention was imminent.

As
I have mentioned above, the R&AW chief Nowsher F. Suntook
reached Mauritius and then supervised a largely intelligence-led
operation to reunite the Indian community whose fracturing along
ideological and communal lines had allowed Mr. Berenger to mount a
political challenge. After this, Prime Minister Anerood Jugnuath
dissolved the Assembly, quit MMM and formed a new party, Militant
Socialist Movement ( MSM). He came back to power with the support of
an alliance with the MLP and the Social Democrats. Paul Berenger had
to accept becoming the leader of the opposition. For India, this was
a huge success. Subsequently, Anerood Jugnauth stayed on as PM for
more than ten years. It was a great personal triumph for India's iron
lady, Mrs. Gandhi and her intelligence wing, R &AW.

After
this, cooperation between Mauritius and India blossomed fully. Prime
Minister Anerood Jugnuath requested India for sending an Indian
intelligence office as his national security adviser. An army man,
General J.N. Tamini, was sent and who remained there for many years.
In the same year, Mrs Gandhi awarded the Double Taxation Avoidance
Convention (DTAC), a unique economic sop provided to Mauritius
entities and persons to invest into India. Today this convention is
one of the principal routes through which Foreign direct investment
comes to India. Indian military assistance was also provided by the
Indian Navy. All Government departments coordinated to continue close
cooperation between these two countries.

Authors
say that Mauritius became the Indian listening post in the IOR and
the Indian Navy helped set up its Coast Guard, provided ships,
personnel and craft and helicopters and Dornier planes which operated
from Port Louis for maritime surveillance. Indian Navy warships
regularly called at Port Louis and co-operated closely with the local
Coast Guard and Police which is responsible for security.

In
subsequent years, India did resort to military interventions in the
Indian ocean, when naval ship Vindhyagiri helped to abort a coup in
the Seychelles in 1986 and again in 1988 when commandos and naval
ships were rushed to the Maldives after Sri Lankan Tamil militants
sought to unseat the then President, Abdul Gayoom.

The
Mauritius operation, however is unique as it was entirely handled by
R & AW, India's intelligence wing and achieved excellent results
for the country. This whole episode also highlights the importance,
Mauritius has in India's strategic plans in the Indian ocean.